Wheelchair user stabbed to death in home attack

A Dublin man and wheelchair was stabbed to death in a violent attack at his home.

The victim, named locally as Tony Rodgers, who was in his 60s, was assaulted in his home in Robinson's Court, off Cork Street yesterday.

He was left bleeding to death in his hallway, according to a witness who ran to his aid.

It is not believed the attack was random and gardai are searching for a motive.

"It would appear the victim was deliberately targeted and gardai will have to investigate if there is anything from his past or more recently that would make him vulnerable to such an attack," said one source.

Gardai say the attack happened at 2.30pm in the small secluded estate populated mainly by elderly people.

"I got a panicked phone call from a friend who was shouting 'it's Tony, he's in a bad way', and so I ran down the stairs and into his hall," said local man David McGuinness, who was one of the first on the scene.

He said Mr Rodgers was wheelchair-bound after having a leg amputated because he suffered from diabetes.

"The blood was pumping out of him. It was very traumatic," Mr McGuinness said.

"He was there in the hall, lying on his side. I tried to help him. I got down beside him but he couldn't speak."

Rushed

Asked if there was any sign of forced entry, Mr McGuinness said Mr Rodgers would sometimes leave his door open.

An ambulance was called and Mr Rodgers was rushed to St James's Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Neighbours in the quiet cul de sac said they were shocked at Mr Rodgers' violent death.

"He was a lovely man. A quiet man. I can't believe what I'm hearing. It's too awful," said Sarah Cullen, who lived a few doors away from Mr Rodgers.

Gardai at Kevin Street in Dublin are appealing to witnesses who may have been in the Robinson's Court area yesterday afternoon to contact them at the incident room on 01 666 9400,

This is the second murder to happen in the complex which mainly provides accommodation for the elderly.